A Brief Guide to St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Holding well on its own among the Midtown’s tall buildings and other architecture of historical significance, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a Neo-Gothic-style cathedral that is at the corner of 5th Avenue and 50th St. With its twin spires jutting 330 feet up toward the heavens, it’s a magnificent symbol of faith in the heart of the city.

Fresh off a 3-year-long, $177 million restoration which cleaned those spires as well as the heavy bronze doors, ceiling, stained glass and enormous pipe organ, currently, the church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. The Neo-Gothic church is one of the most-visited religious sites in New York City. Well, factually, it’s among the NYC’s most-visited attractions. Period. It welcomes about 5 million people each year.

Spanning the length of an entire City block, the architecture is made of brick itself but overlaid in marble completely. And once you pass the gates and stand under the vaulted ceiling, there’s simply a lot to see, including a giant organ with 7,855 pipes (with a tinier counterpart somewhere too), 20+ altars and a marble Stations of the Cross.

Why do the locals love it?

135 odd years have passed by since its inception. And it is now regarded as a prominent landmark in New York City. It takes up more space than an entire city block and can accommodate well over 2,200 people. It’s a magnificent piece of architecture to marvel at, and despite the busy streets that encompass it, the cathedral acts as a peaceful sanctuary to 5.5 million people who come to visit it annually.

Why should you visit it?

It’s a National Historic Landmark that dates back to the 1850s. More importantly, it is still active today with daily masses and special music events.

Visit: 5th Ave, New York City, New York 10022

Opening Hours: 6:30 am – 8:45 pm, all days of the week.

If you’re a budget traveler or if you’re going solo, getting around the USA by bus is your safest bet.